Subframe for motor vehicles



March 3, 1942. H. B. LEWIS 2,275,050

SUBFRME FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. 12, 1940 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 Howard B. Lewis, Venice, Calif.,

assignor to Salsbnry Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 12, 1940, Serial No. 365,146

1 Claim.

My inventionm relates to motor vehicles and is well adapted to be used on vehicles of the type later described herein.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for minimizing road shocks for the purpose of adding to the comfort of the rider and reducing wear on the mechanism and tires of the vehicle.

Further objectsand evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only:

. Fig. 1 is a utility view of a motor drive vehicle incorporating my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my invention taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

F1Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of advantages will be made 'gfs is a section taken on the une 5 5 of Fig. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionillustrating the manner in which the auxiliary frame is supported near its forward end by the main frame; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section illustra-tingthe suspension means at the rearward end of the auxillary frame and the main frame.

My inventionhas a peculiar utility when applied to a vehicle of the type shown in thedrawing. Such a vehicle has a driving wheel II which is driven by a motor I 2 which is preferably an internal combustion engine. The vehicle also has a front or steering wheel I3 which is mounted in a fork having handles I4 by which the position o1 the wheel I3 is controlled for the purpose of steering. Therider I sits on a seat l5 which is carried on a hood I1. The hood Ii is supported on amain frame 2I These vehicles are light in weight and of low first cost and can be operated at low expense- They have certain inherent disadvantages. For example, since the wheels are small the vehicles do not ride smoothly over rough roads. A small irregularity in the road surface which could be more easily surmounted by a larger wheel produces a heavy upward blow against the wheel.

Such blows or road shocks are transmitted through the wheel to the vehicle itself and the reaction of the tire against the road depends upon the unsprung weight tending to hold the tire down. The wear on the tire and mechanism of the vehicle is a function of the violence produced by such road shocks. It is an object of the invention to provide means which permit the h5 Wheel to move upwardly against springs and thus reduce road shocks.

To accomplish this object I provide an auxiliary frame 22 which fits inside the main frame 2| and is supported near its forward end by bolts 23 which pass through rubber washers 24 against and through which forces generated in the auxiliary frame 22 are transmitted to the main frame 2|. These rubber washers 24 tend to absorb shocks and provide a flexible connection between the auxiliary frame 22 and the main frame 2l. The bolts 23 pass through the main frame 2l and clamp the auxiliary frame thereto through the washers 24. The motor I2 is rigidly mounted on the auxiliary frame 22 and drives the wheel II through a suitable transmission. The axle 25 of the wheel II is also fixed to the auxiliary frame 22.

`Secured to the auxiliary frame 22 near the rear end thereof are two studs 21 which pass through gusset plates 28 of the main frame. A lower spring 29 is placed on each stud 21 below the plate 28, the springs 29 being compression springs each abutting on the main frame 2| at their upper ends and u pon the auxiliary frame 22 at their lower ends. An upper spring 30 is placed on each of the studs 2l above the gusset plate 28. The springs 30 are also compression springs each abutting on the gusset plates 28 at their lower ends and each abutting at its upper end on a washer 3| which abuts on a nut 32 on the stud 21.

This spring suspension between the auxiliary fraineZZ and themain frame 2i allows the rear end of the auxiliary frame 22 to move up or down with relation to the main frame 2i, thus minimizing road shocks. Since the motor I2 is placed near the front end of the auxiliary frame 22, its inertia does not act directly on the axle 25 but at a long' leverage thereon, so that the unsprung weight on the tire resides in the wheel, a part of the weight of the auxiliary frame, and a small part of the weight of the motor I2, and other parts.

Due to the above described arrangement; of parts, road shocks and vibrations produced at the point of contact 0f the tire 33 on -the road 34 are damped out by the springs 29 and 3l) and the rubber suspension at the front end of the auxiliary frame 22. As a result these shocks and vibrations are not felt` by the rider to the degree that they would be were such springs and suse pension not provided. This point is very important, as these vehicles are commonly ridden several hours each day in messenger and similar service and shocks -and vibrations are fatiguing and harmful to the rider. Also, by damping out these shocks and vibrations the power consumption of the vehicle and Wear on vehicle parts are reduced.

' The engines used in these vehicles produce con;

Sider-able vibration and lo? mounting the engine on the auxiliary frame and supporting the rider on the main frame these vibrations are not transmitted through rigid connections no the rider,

' thusincreasing his comfort by producing a much remore seid motor is supported and near the rear end of which the erle of seid wheel is journoiledi; bolts persing through said auxiliary frame end seid moin frame neer the forward end thereof; rubber washers on seid bolts between seid mein Kreme and seid auxiliary freine; studs attached to seid ouxiiiery frame and passing through gusset nietes on said main frame; helical compression springs carried on seid studs between seid gusseizs and said auxiliery frame; nuts, each threaded on the upper end of one of said studs; and helical compression springs carried on said studs between said gusset plates and said nuts.

an auxiliary frame near the forward end or which 15 HOWD LEWIS. 

